Shock-proof X-ray tube unit



C. TIETIG SHOCKPROOF X-RAY TUBE UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 26, 1935.

Filed Dec 30, 1932 IN/VENTORI Patented Feb. 26, 1935 UNITED STATESSHOCK-PROOF X-RAY TUBE UNIT Chester Tietig, (loving'ton, K'y., assignorto Kelley-Koett Manufacturing Company, Covington, Ky., a corporation ofOhio Application December'30, 1932, Serial No. 649,583

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a shock proof X-ray tube unit.

Among the objects of the invention is the provision of an oil immersingmeans for the X-ray tube, the oil supply which is first run thru ahollow anode of the X-ray tube so that the coldest oil is available'atthe spot that needs the greatest cooling effect. Another object is toprovide a construction in which X-rays may freely leave the tube withoutpassing thru oil, even tho the tube be immersed. Another object is toprovide secure insulation for the high tension leads without using anyother means to insulate them than the oil delivery means. Still anotherobject is to provide general insulation for the X-ray tube that is X-rayproof,. of high dielectric strength, and protected against thermalcracking but still permeable to ordinary light.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a sec tional side elevation ofmy device.

Fig. 2 is a projection of Fig. 1 taken along the line 2-2 thereof.

Figs. 3 and 4 are plan and end views respece tively of beads used toseparate wires from each other or from the walls of rubber tubing.

In the drawings 10 is a rectangular or cylindrical vessel madepreferably of lead glass but per- Qmissibly of metal. The vessel 10 hasacover 11,

the removal of which gives an opening ample to admit the X-ray tube 12.Screws 13 or other fastening means are provided to hold the cover inoil-tight relation, with the help of gasket 14, to the vessel 10. v

At each end of the vessel is a projection 15 by which vessel 10 may berotatably held in an ordi-. nary tube holder. At the bottom of vessel 10I there is a circular or other shaped window 16,

the closing of which is effected by the X-ray tube itself and optionallyby the aid of a thin aluminum filter gasket 17. The gasket and filterare held in an annular channel 18 provided therefor. l

The X-ray tube itself is preferably of the shape shown, althoconventionally shaped Coolidge or gas-containing tubes are also adaptedto be used,

A rubber cup 23 is also placed inside projection 15 and the cathode endof the tube supported againstit.

The cathode leads 24 are introduced thru a glass seal 25 in an oil-tightand gas-tight manner directly thru the glass neck of the X-ray tube tothe filament supporting wires 26. They are bare but are held separate byglass or bakelite beads 27. In order that these beads may not entirelyobstruct the flow of oil in the rubber tube 31, thru which they are led,they are made longer than they are wide. The plan View of one of them isshown in Fig. 3 and an end view in Fig. 4. They form no part of myinvention and may be omitted if the voltages employed are not excessive.

The anode 28 is a hollow coppe cylinder hearing a tungsten target 29 onits face. The anode is cementedto the tube at the neck 30 in a gastightmanner. 1 At the rear of the anode there is a heavy nut 32 which isthreaded and soldered to theanode. Centrally, this nut supports a metaltube 33 which extends almost to the inner face of target 29. The rearend of thistube is preferably turned upward. Nut 32 is perforated withmany holes 34 which are parallel to the tube 33. The anode lead 35 issoldered either to the tube 33 or to nut 34.

. Attached to glass or metal connections 36 in the lid 11 are oil-proofrubber tubes 31, each of which contains one or more electric leads 24 or35. Two high tension leads of opposite polarity are not however, carriedin the same tube. The rubber tubes lead to a pump 37 in the preferredconstruction, which pump may be connected to a cooling reservoir 38alsoin the circuit. .The electrical leads do not enter the pump orthereservoir, but are taken out thru the walls of the rubber tubing thruan oil-tight joint (not shown). If this joint is a sufficient distancefrom the pump and reservoir, the two latter do not have to be insulated.A cooling reservoir may be sometimes dispensed with.

The oil is circulated by the pump so that the hot oil from the cathodelead tube is drawn first into the pump, then pushed into the coolingreservoir and thence to the anode lead tube. It enters tube 33, coolsthe rear face of target 29,

then flows out of holes 34 into vessel 10. It leaves the vessel againthru the cathode lead.

Under certain conditions of operation a pump may be dispensed with. Therubber tubes from both ends of the vessel 10 may be connected togetherat a point remote from where the electrical leads leave the rubbertubing. Convection circulation is thus relied upon. This arrangement issatisfactory only when the X-ray tube is op-- gas bubbles formed fromvolatized'oil will then be able to leavethe anode by rising so that thesystem will not become gas bound.

Instead of liquid used in the system, a gas may be employed. Either airor hydrogen is suitable. The pump may then be replaced by a fan.

The oil-proof rubber herein mentioned is preferably the substances knownas 'I'hioko or Du Prene, but may be any other oil resistant rubberlikesubstance, providing it is a good electrical insulator.

NI claim:-

1. A shock-proof X-ray tube unit comprising aux-ray tube having a hollowanode, and a cathode, a target in said anode, a tube adapted to delivera liquid to a. point immediately behind the target, means for supportingsaid liquid delivery tube, said means also being adaptedv to allowpassage of the liquid out of the anode, the usual anode and cathodeleads connected respectively to the anode and cathode of said X-raytube, a vessel of substantially larger size enclosing said X-ray tube, awindow in said vessel for the emergence of X-rays, an insulating andcooling liquid in said vessel, a gasket for preventing the leakage ofliquid from the vessel around the window therein, ports in said vesselfor the admittance of conductors to the interior. thereof, oil-proofrubber tubes in communication with said ports, a conductor in each ofsaid rubber tubes, said conductors being respectively continuations ofaforesaid anode and cathode leads.

2. An X-ray tube unit according to claim. 1 having in addition a pump, acooling unit and connections between the pump, the cooling unit and thetube unit for the circulation of liquid therethru.

3. In an X-ray tube unit an X-ray tube, a duct for delivering a coolingand insulating liquid to the rear of the target of said .tube, a vesselenclosing the tube and permitting accumulation of said liquid about saidtube and two flexible, electrically insulating, wire containing conduitstogether adapted to conduct electricity and liquid to and from said tubeand thru said enclosing and accumulating vessel.

4. An X-ray tube unit according to claim 3, having in addition pump andpump circuit for the liquid, a cooling reservoir for the liquid, in

said pump circuit, the flexible electrically-insulating wire-containingconduits being arranged to-be parts of said pump circuit.

5. A shock-proof X-ray tube .unit comprising an X-ray tube, a vesselenclosing the same, a hollow anode therefor, a fluid supply meansextending well into the anode for supplying a fluid having cooling andinsulating properties to the interior of the anode of said tube, meansfor supporting the fluid supply means within the anode, said meanspermitting the escape of said fluid from the anode interior to the saidenclosing vessel, and ducts for the ingress and egress of insulatingandcooling fluid to the enclosing vessel, each of said ducts housing atleast one conductor for delivering current to the- X-ray tube.

6. An X-ray tube unit according to claim 5 having in addition a coolingmeans, means connected between the outer ends or the beforementionedducts and in circuit with the cooling means for circulating the fluidsupplied to the anode and to the vessel thru said cooling means andthence back to the anode.

7.' A shock-proof X-ray tube unit comprising an X-ray tube, a hollowanode therefor, a vessel of substantially larger size enclosing thetube,v

a duct mounted within the anode for supplying a current of a liquidhaving coolingand insulating properties to the interior of the anode ofsaid tube, means for supporting said duct, said means having an openingfor permitting the escape of said fluid from that end of the anode whichgenerates no radiation, a plurality of oil proof rubber tubes'arrangedto conduct liquid to and from the enclosing vessel, and at least oneconductor arranged within each of said tubes and within said liquid tosupply electric current to the said X-ray tube.

8. An X-ray tube according to claim 7 having in addition a cooling meansand mean. in circult therewith for circulating the liquid supplied tothe anode and to the vessel thru said cooling means and thence back tothe anode.

9. A shockproof X-ray tube unit comprising an X-ray tube, a hollow anodetherefor, a cathode therefor, a tube extending Well into said hollowanode, a multi-perforated stopple or nut supporting said tube in saidanode, a flexible oil proof rubber conduit connected to said anode tube,a vessel of substantially larger size surrounding said X-ray tube andenclosing the same bodily said vessel having ports for the ingress andegress of liquid and a port for the emergence of X-rays, means withinsaid vessel for supporting said X-ray tube, flanges on the edges of thesaid liquid ingress and. egress ports, one or more metallic conductorsto the cathode and one conductor to the anode, extending thru saidthesaid enclosing vessel, 2. pump and a cooling reservoir connected inseries with each other and with the otherwise free ends of said oil.

proof flexible tubing and a filling of insulating oil in said flexibleoil proof tubes and the said vessel enclosing the X-ray tube.

10. An X-ray apparatus comprising a container, an X-ray tube mountedtherein, and including a cathode and a hollow anode, means cooperatingwith said anode for conducting a cooling and insulating fluid to andfrom the interior thereof, a second means for conducting said coolingand insulating fluid, said second mentioned means being in fluidcommunication with said container and first mentioned means,electrically conductive means connected to said cathode and anode andextending into said second mentioned means, said container, the interiorof said hollow anode and said second mentioned means being provided witha cooling and insulating fluid. v

' CHESTER .TIE'IIG.

